Grace Talitha Groenke, age 81, of Union, Mo., died Tuesday, Jan. 8, 2008. Grace was the wife of Rev. Lloyd Groenke, a former resident of Lester Prairie.

Grace was born Sept. 27, 1926, in Freedom, Mo., the daughter of August and Emma (Stohlman) Niewald.She was baptized Oct. 17, 1926, at Pilgrim Lutheran Church in Freedom, Mo.; and confirmed March 17, 1940.

Grace received her education in Missouri at Pilgrim Lutheran School and Miller Grove Public School, and graduated from Linn High School in 1945.

She served as the secretary in the treasury department of the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod for 10 years.

Grace was united in marriage to Lloyd Groenke Aug. 21, 1954, at St. Stephen’s Lutheran Church in St. Louis, Mo.

She was preceded in death by her parents; and two sisters, Cornelia Niewald and Marie Ludwig.

Grace is survived by her husband, Lloyd Groenke of Union, Mo.; three sons, David Groenke and wife Sharon, of Gerald, Mo., and Dale Groenke and wife Cindy, of Beaufort, Mo.; two daughters, Karen Stevenson of Ozark, Mo., and Janet Havelka and husband Douglas, of St. Louis, Mo.; a sister, Pauline Niewald of Owensville, Mo.; seven grandchildren, Beth Groenke, Ross and Faith Groenke, Amy and Timothy Stevenson, and Benjamin and Matthew Havelka; other relatives; and many friends.

Funeral services were Friday, Jan. 11 at Pilgrim Lutheran Church in Freedom, Mo. with the Revs. Norman Dierking and Robert Kriete officiating. Interment was in the church cemetery.